Friday, November 29, 2013

Note: This book is a sequel to the Christmas Time Travel romance If Only in My Dreams (2006) by Wendy Markham.

When Clara
wakes up on Christmas morning next to her husband Drew, she's filled
with joy because she has the perfect present: she's seven weeks pregnant
with their first child.

But no sooner does Clara tell
Drew the news than an earthquake strikes in nearby San Francisco. The
next thing Clara knows she's waking up in bed-alone-and discovers she's
three years in the future. Where is her husband and what has happened to
the child she was expecting? Clara is no stranger to unusual
occurrences, but the last thing on her Christmas list was to time
travel...again.

Jaded
Iris Snowe’s humdrum life becomes a fairy tale with the addition of the
absurdly rich, ungodly sexy Ryan Gallagher. But he’s hiding deadly
secrets that could turn happily-ever-after into a nightmare...

Attorney Iris Snowe drinks too much, eats too much, and spends too much.
Her sex life has been as spectacularly unsuccessful as her law
practice, so she spends her evenings in her tiny apartment watching bad
TV, talking to her cat, and rescuing pit bulls.
And her name might be Iris, but it should be Jade. As in jaded, which is how she feels about romance and men in general.

So, when a gorgeous and sexy stranger appears in her law office on
Monday morning, after a one-night stand the previous Saturday, she
doesn't think that he is coming to see her because he is interested. She
just figures that she left something behind in the room and he is
enough of a gentleman to deliver it to her.

How wrong she is.

As it turns out, Ryan Gallagher not only looks like a Ralph Lauren
model come to life, but is also fabulously wealthy, as he is the son of a
prominent billionaire.

In other words, light years out of Iris' league.
And completely into her, in more ways than one.

And so begins the erotic Cinderella romance of her life, with a man
who truly loves her. And oh, if it could just be that simple. But, of
course, it's not -the fairy tale is fractured, as it is marred by
obsession, jealousy, and dark secrets that Ryan has desperately sought
to conceal and repress. It turns out that, behind those magnificent
green eyes, lies the memories of a past that nobody should ever have to
experience. Nobody.

Friday, November 22, 2013

Romance is the last thing on Ian’s mind. He’s juggling two jobs, his
kids are crazy and every time he gets close to his wife, she snaps at
him. Communication has never been their strong suit, and now their
physical connection is fizzling as well.

Their marriage wasn’t chosen for love…

Carrie knows she’s being too hard on her husband, but eight years ago
she had a one-night stand that turned into a lifetime of diapers and
dinners. She can’t shake the feeling that she wants more. Too bad she
has no idea what that might be.

Leave a comment on this post congratulating the winners of my mini-contests and you could be a winner too! You have until midnight tonight to enter to win. The gift card winner will be announced tomorrow, so check back and see if you won. :)

Must
be 18+ to enter. The odds of winning depend upon the number of
participants. Contest void where prohibited by law. I strive to make my
prize winners happy, however, as with all my contests, it is the
participant’s responsibility to check the blog to see if their name is
announced as a winner, and/or to respond to winning notification emails
in order to claim your prize. Prizes must be claimed within 30 days of
contest winning announcement. If not claimed within 30 days, the prize
will either be added to another contest, or a second chance drawing at
my discretion. Not responsible for lost/stolen mail.

Sunday, November 17, 2013

The cover for book two in my Naughty South Series, Naughty By Nature ! Isn't he gorgeous? For those who've read Naughty Little Secrets, you'll remember Tim Riley, Tyler Murchison's partner in the auto repair garage.

Here's the blurb:

Can a shy, mild mannered man change into an alpha hottie in time to seduce the woman he adores?

Pam Purcell never dreamed she’d be the one from her high school
yearbook, divorced and still childless at thirty-seven. With her twenty year
class reunion and yet another birthday on the way, her biological clock
is screaming to wake up and get busy. There’s just one problem…the lack
of eligible men in town.

Tim Riley has had a crush on Pam since the day he saw her kicking the
flat tire on her car and stopped to help. He’s been a loyal customer at
Pam’s beauty salon ever since, trying to work up his courage to ask her
out. With Pam’s sister Stacie helping coach Tim, he develops a surefire
plan to seduce and woo the former homecoming queen. But will he be
able to reawaken Pam’s once naughty nature when she only sees him as one
of her customers?

Coming soon to Smashwords, Amazon, B&N, and iTunes.

If you haven't read my erotic romance novella Naughty Little Secrets (book one in my Naughty South series), I've made it available for a limited time starting today until the end of the month. I hope you'll enjoy my tale of southern blue collar heroes and the lucky women they love.

To get your FREE copy of book one in my Naughty South Series —Naughty Little Secrets, go to https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/118880 and use the coupon code SZ28M during checkout. Please note that this coupon expires Saturday, November 30, 2013.

Remember, you can leave a comment on any post this week to receive an entry into my Reader Appreciation Week contest for the Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card.

Saturday, November 16, 2013

My Reader Appreciation Week is winding down, but I wanted to recap all the mini contests so anyone who hasn't entered or commented, still has time to get in there and leave a comment to enter to win some cool prizes.

This mini-contest ends midnight Sunday, November 17, 2013. Good Luck! Remember, anyone leaving a comment for
the mini-contests this week are also entered for the Amazon or B&N
gift card drawing.

Must
be 18+ to enter. The odds of winning depend upon the number of
participants. Contest void where prohibited by law. I strive to make my
prize winners happy, however, as with all my contests, it is the
participant’s responsibility to check the blog to see if their name is
announced as a winner, and/or to respond to winning notification emails
in order to claim your prize. Prizes must be claimed within 30 days of
contest winning announcement. If not claimed within 30 days, the prize
will either be added to another contest, or a second chance drawing at
my discretion. Not responsible for lost/stolen mail.

Friday, November 15, 2013

Reader Appreciation Week continues with some great ebooks I think you'll enjoy.

Today's Friday Finds are a mixed bag of wonderful stories available for less than a latté. I don't know about you, but I love to discover new to me authors, and what better way to try them out than with a .99¢ or free ebook? Who knows, you might find your next auto-buy author.

Enjoy contemporary romance? Like your heroes tall, handsome, and rich? Give this New York Times best-selling author a try and you may start craving her backlist.

New York Times
bestselling author Monica Murphy launches her sexy Billionaire
Bachelors Club series with a lavish bet, a night of carnal desires, and a
forever that never seemed possible.

Billionaire Archer Bancroft
always gets what he wants—and he's wanted Ivy Emerson, his best friend's
sister, for far too long. Being forbidden and untouchable only makes
her more tempting. When a million-dollar bet with his friends throws
down a challenge—last bachelor standing takes all—Archer knows he can
win. That is, until one enchanted evening with Ivy takes his heart for a
ride.

Ivy knows Archer is nothing but
bad news: infuriating, arrogant . . . and completely intoxicating. But
despite her best efforts, she can't seem to keep away. When a stolen
kiss leads to a night of heated passion, Ivy realizes she's in trouble and in head over heels.

But in the light of day,
everything seems clearer, and Archer's not so sure a one-night stand is
all he wants. Concocting a plan to keep Ivy by his side, Archer might
just be willing to lose this bet . . . and win the jackpot instead.

Everything Emma Thompson owns fits in a suitcase she moves from one roach infested motel to another. She and Jake, her five-year-old son who can see the future, are running from the men intent on taking him. Emma will do anything to protect him, even when it means accepting the help of a stranger named Will. Jake insists she needs Will, but Emma’s never needed help before. And even though she’s learned to trust her son, it doesn’t mean she trusts Will.

Mercenary Will Davenport lives in the moment. Hauling Emma to South Dakota should have been an easy job, but his employer neglected to tell him about Emma’s freaky son and the gunmen hot on her trail. Instinct tells him this job is trouble, but nothing can prepare him for Jake’s proclamation that Will is The Chosen One, who must protect Emma from the men hunting her power. A power she doesn’t know she has.

Will protects Emma and Jake on a cross-country chase from the men pursuing them, while struggling with memories from his past, his apprehension of Jake, and his growing attraction to Emma. Will’s overwhelming urge to protect Emma surprises him, especially since it has nothing to do with his paycheck and possibly everything to do with the tattoo Jake branded on his arm. Rich and powerful men are desperate to capture Emma, and Will must discover why, before it’s too late.

Julie Greene loves flings. Loves steamy first dates, sizzling first kisses, and every now and then, that first sexy romp between the sheets. Comfy pants, sleepy Sundays, movie nights on the couch? Shudder.

But when Julie gets assigned the hardest story of her career—a first-person account of that magical shift between dating and “I do”—she’ll need a man brave enough to give a total commitment-phobe a chance at more.

Normally, Mitchell Forbes would be exactly that man. A devastatingly hot workaholic who tends to stay in relationships for far too long, he should be the perfect subject for Julie’s “research.”

But what Julie doesn’t know is that Mitchell is looking to cut loose for once in his life. And the leggy journalist notorious for avoiding love is exactly the type of no-strings fling he’s looking for. In other words, Mitchell is the polar opposite of what Julie needs right now. And, at the same time, he’s exactly what she wants.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

I thought it might be fun to do a Throwback Thursday and have my readers chime in and tell me some of their favorite memories/songs/clothes from the coolest, most fun era around. Scroll down for contest news!

I remember one summer back in the 80's, some friends and I were shopping at the downtown Galleria. The heat index was insane, but we figured we'd be okay indoors. I remember I was wearing my pink transparent jellies (shoes), my ripped acid washed jeans and baby blue polka dot blouse with the white cuffed cap sleeves. I thought I was so chic. lol

As we left and were walking back to the parking garage with our purchases, I stumbled. My shoes got sticky and appeared to be melting on the asphalt! I tried to run the rest of the way before they could stick again, and they came completely off. I sprained my ankle and in my friends effort to help me, two of them also got stuck as their jellies got sticky on the asphalt. Now there were three of us, and we had to get our friend who was the only one wearing Reeboks, to run the rest of the way to our car and drive it back to get us. To an onlooker, we had to be the silliest thing this side of spray on hair; three young women all holding on to each other and hopping to keep from burning our feet on melting plastic shoes or the equally hot pavement. lol

Next?

Winner will be drawn at random from all entries, on or around November 19, 2013
Contest ends midnight Sunday, November 17, 2013. Good Luck! Remember, anyone leaving a comment for
the mini-contests this week are also entered for the Amazon or B&N
gift card drawing. Must
be 18+ to enter. The odds of winning depend upon the number of
participants. Contest void where prohibited by law. I strive to make my
prize winners happy, however, as with all my contests, it is the
participant’s responsibility to check the blog to see if their name is
announced as a winner, and/or to respond to winning notification emails
in order to claim your prize. Prizes must be claimed within 30 days of
contest winning announcement. If not claimed within 30 days, the prize
will either be added to another contest, or a second chance drawing at
my discretion. Not responsible for lost/stolen mail.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Mermaids, selkies, and other shape shifters of the sea have long been some of my favorite characters within the paranormal sub-genre of romance. For one thing, these shape shifters aren't cursed by evil or created through some parasitic virus. They are part of the old magic, lost among myth and mystery. Who knows what lurks among the ocean deep?

In my Shifting Tides trilogy, one man’s ultimate quest for power troubles an undersea world already
rife with dark danger and political intrigues, forcing three women to
face down their fears and embrace their destiny.

I based that one man, my villain Nick Sharkey (oh yep, I went there, lol. After all, I love a pun just as much as I do universal irony), and his clan, on the ancient Formorians of legend. Half shark, half human, the Formorians were a giant race of creatures who raided the coasts of Ireland, and were the enemy of the Tuatha Dé Danann (The people of the Goddess Danu). Often, they would invade the rivers from the sea and claim the land and any female humans caught between as theirs by force. The Sídhe (pronounced She) did battle with these pirate-like invaders. So who won this epic war? Some folklorists point to the fact that the Sídhe are said to have retreated to a place under hill, within a magical dimension they created. Which would seem to mean that the Formorians won, continued their raping and pillaging of humans and their settlements, eventually becoming more and more human as they interbred the species, for generations diluting the Formorian bloodlines.

But another bit of folklore survived which speaks of the Sidhe regrouping and returning much later to defeat the remaining Formorians. Those Sídhe intermarried with humans as well, and their offspring became the Druids (wise ones) of each non-Formorian settlement. By blending in, they disappeared. Perhaps some of these descendants of the Sídhe are still alive today, fighting the descendants of the Formorians. :) Makes for an interesting story, at least that's what first captured my imagination when I decided to sit down and write my own shape shifters romance.

Fun & Games Mini Contest For Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2013

Want to enter to win a signed copy of my paperback, Shifting Tides? Simply leave a comment on this post and tell me which aquatic shape shifter is your favorite among: Mermaid/Merman, Selkie (seal), Shark, or some other kettle o' fish? :D

Winner will be drawn at random from all entries, on or around November 18, 2013
Contest ends midnight Sunday, November 17, 2013. Good Luck!

Remember, anyone leaving a comment for
the mini-contests this week are also entered for the Amazon or B&N
gift card drawing.

Must
be 18+ to enter. The odds of winning depend upon the number of
participants. Contest void where prohibited by law. I strive to make my
prize winners happy, however, as with all my contests, it is the
participant’s responsibility to check the blog to see if their name is
announced as a winner, and/or to respond to winning notification emails
in order to claim your prize. Prizes must be claimed within 30 days of
contest winning announcement. If not claimed within 30 days, the prize
will either be added to another contest, or a second chance drawing at
my discretion. Not responsible for lost/stolen mail.

Jack glanced over at his computer screen, hearing another incoming email alert. At least he wasn’t the only one working late tonight. He popped off a reply to the company’s VP of Human Resources, and also replied to the email from the head of Owen Hartfield’s security division. The last thing they needed right now were information leaks.

Another twenty minutes passed before Jack finished his email. He shut down the computer and went back to the print out. Just a few pages left, then he promised himself he’d leave it for Tegan to check tomorrow.

A knock on the door forced him to look up. “Come in.”

“Sorry, but I saw the light on and I thought Tegan might still be here.”

“It’s okay, Ms. Dannon. He left over an hour ago. What are you still doing here?”

“I wanted to complete some last minute paperwork.”

She was doing it again. Staring at him like a cat eyeing a nice juicy salmon. He was tired of swimming upstream alone, fighting the current. This time he’d wait and let her catch him.

He stood, rubbed the back of his neck, and looked at her from beneath his lashes. She must have been in a hurry, because her lightweight sweater was inside out, her soft, pale blond hair flew in every direction. A flash of silver just below her hip snagged his attention. Lindsay had a breath mint wrapper clinging to her navy skirt.

Part of him wanted to laugh. Other, more insistent parts of him, wanted to push her against a wall, strip off her ridiculous clothes, and kiss her everywhere, then make her beg for more.

She had a hungry vulnerability about her that called to something deep inside him…something he recognized too well. Those damn protective instincts.

“I was just getting ready to leave. Let me walk you to your car.” He put the report back in the folder and grabbed her elbow, not waiting for her response. He flipped off the lights and guided her from his office toward the bank of elevators beyond the frosted glass panels. As they waited, he noticed her shiver.

“Are you cold?” He started removing his jacket.

“I’m fine. Oh look…the elevator’s here.” She hurried inside.

What the hell was wrong with her? She acted nervous. Had he misinterpreted her signals? No, he thought, remembering her incredible kiss last December when he took her home.

Jack watched Lindsay as they got into the elevator. He reached across her to press the button for the ground floor and almost froze when his forearm brushed past her breasts unintended. She bit her lower lip, worrying it with her teeth. His balls tightened, fixated on that lower lip.

“You hungry?” He knew he was. And for far more than the potential dinner date he was suggesting. But he didn’t want to scare her off, or worse, get slapped with a sexual harassment lawsuit in case he was wrong—but how could he be?

Monday, November 11, 2013

Post a comment on any of the blog posts during my Reader Appreciation Week time period and you'll be entered into a drawing for a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card to be given away on November 19, 2013.

Watch for mini-contests during the week to enter to win other prizes!

I appreciate all ya'll for following me on this writing journey. Oh, speaking of following me, if you don't follow me on Facebook, or you have friends who don't follow me, head over there now and click on my like button, because once I hit 200 likes on my author page, I'm making one of my ebooks FREE!

Fun & Games Mini Contest For Monday, Nov. 11, 2013

I love to cook and bake, so of course, collecting cookbooks is one of my passions. To get your own cookbook collection started (or add to it), today's prize is the awesome recipe and idea book Homemade Christmas by Gooseberry Patch.

Filled with wonderful kid friendly ideas for Christmas craft projects and delicious recipes the entire family will enjoy, it will make a wonderful addition to your kitchen library. To enter, please leave a comment with one of your favorite holiday dishes. Winner will be drawn at random from all entries, on or around November 18, 2013

Remember, anyone leaving a comment for the mini-contests this week are also entered for the Amazon or B&N gift card drawing.

Must
be 18+ to enter. The odds of winning depend upon the number of
participants. Contest void where prohibited by law. I strive to make my
prize winners happy, however, as with all my contests, it is the
participant’s responsibility to check the blog to see if their name is
announced as a winner, and/or to respond to winning notification emails
in order to claim your prize. Prizes must be claimed within 30 days of
contest winning announcement. If not claimed within 30 days, the prize
will either be added to another contest, or a second chance drawing at
my discretion. Not responsible for lost/stolen mail.

Friday, November 8, 2013

Check out this fantastic deal (SIX FULL-LENGTH STORIES FOR .99!) but it won't be around forever, so grab this while you still can!

Dive into six different worlds of vampires, demons, fae, fairy
godmothers, mages, and all things magic. Prepare for a wild ride,
whether you're looking for nail-biting drama, mystery, intense action,
humor, new breeds of paranormals, or passionate romance. Indulge in this
amazing boxed set from six bestselling urban fantasy authors:

SACRIFICED IN SHADOW by SM Reine
Lincoln Marshall is a small-town deputy with a very big problem. Six
members of his church have been found dead, killed by a rogue werewolf.
He'll have to make a deal with the Devil to save victims that have gone
missing -- maybe literally. Elise Kavanagh, preternatural investigator
and exorcist, is the expert when it comes to violent deaths at the jaws
of evil. She's also among the most powerful demons that Hell has
spawned. Elise jumps at Lincoln's case, and it's not just because of his
down-home charm. Someone's laid a trap for her in Northgate, and she
wants to find out who....

CRIMSON NIGHT by Marie Hall
Welcome one and all to Carnival Diabolique- my name is Pandora, and I'm a
Nephilim. What does that mean? I'm half demon, what's my other name?
Lust. But I'm not all bad. I fight for light, for goodness and truth.
But people are starting to disappear and lately I've felt a dark
presence lurking around me. I think it might be a death priest and
that's really bad. This should have been easy, me killing fanged freaks,
getting rid of my pesky priest problem, but I'm about to be betrayed by
the one person I thought I could trust with my life and before the
night is through I'll be covered in crimson... -Dark Urban Fantasy

INFLUENTIAL MAGIC by Deanna Chase
Welcome to the Crescent City, the home of Willow Rhoswen, faery and
magical baker extraordinaire. While fighting for her life, Willow is
caught between two gorgeous men as she navigates the corruption of a
powerful vampire organization and her own supernatural government
agency.

FAIRY TALES AND EVER AFTERS by Danielle Monsch
If you like your fairy tales just a little twisted, this is the series
for you! Three tales follow our fairy godmothers as they figure out ways
to help the damsels - and mansels - in distress, all the while making
sure every couple gets their happily ever after.

MAGGIE FOR HIRE by Kate Danley
When monsters appear on earth, Maggie MacKay is on the job. No one is
better at hauling the creepy crawlies back where they belong… no one
except her dad, who disappeared mysteriously in the middle of an
assignment. When an elf named Killian shows up with a gig, Maggie finds
herself at the center of a plot to turn the earth into a vampire
playground. The only hope for survival is tracking down two missing
statues and a secret that disappeared with Maggie's father. Warning: This book contains cussing, brawling, and unladylike behavior. Proceed with caution.

STERLING (MAGERI SERIES: BOOK 1) by Dannika Dark
Follow the journey of a young woman's claim to immortality and her own
identity. Zoë Merrick's human life ends when she is brutally attacked by
a Mage who gives her the gift of immortality. She soon discovers they
are not magicians, but powerful beings who can manipulate energy. Justus
De Gradi steps forward to act as her Ghuardian, teaching her how to
fight to protect the light within her. Will she learn to accept her fate
and trust those around her? Urban Fantasy Romance Series.

Monday, November 4, 2013

For those reading this who don't know what nanowrimo is, it's National Novel Writing Month, the time of year when folks who have a story to tell, buckle down and try to write it in 30 days. Held every November at http://nanowrimo.org/ we the proud, the brave, and the crazy, attempt to complete our book while urging on our fellow writers.

Sort of like Weight Watchers peer pressure and a New Year's resolution all rolled into one. In theory, procrastination stops and writing-fu begins.That means butt in chair, fingers flying over the keyboard, timed writing, and the self editor left the building. But not to worry, she'll be back when you're done, to edit your latest opus.

You may wonder what length constitutes a novel. Below is a simple chart that shows both average novel lengths as well as the most common perspectives, each broken down by genre. For NanoWriMo, the minimum to shoot for is 50,000 words.

If there is a book inside you, now is the perfect time to get started. And if you need a push, the other nano participating writers will help give you a push to get rolling. So what are you waiting for? Give it a try.

Friday, November 1, 2013

Western romances are more popular than ever before. Tales of beefy hunks in cowboy hats, whether set in the old west, or more contemporary, fill the desire for wide open spaces, men of character who will love their chosen woman til the sun comes up and then some. If you dream of men with their spurs on, then check out these special priced romances...

Breed Morgan didn't want a bride, but his sister-in-law, Sissy
Morgan, arranged for his mail order bride just like she promised his Pa
she would. Being the man he was, when Breed read Susan Bradley's letters
and the abuse she was living through at her uncle's hand after her
father's death, he couldn't turn his back on her. Vowing he would marry
her, but in name only, to protect her from her uncle and Benton Giles,
he promised himself he would send her back home when all was settled.

Susan Bradley was thankful that Breed and his family helped her
escape the nightmare she was living. She felt free for the first time
since her father's death. When she met Breed, he took her breath away.
He was strong and handsome, but refused to consumate their marriage,
vowing to keep her safe until she could return home. The only problem
with that was, she didn't want him to send her away, but wanted him to
love her for the rest of her life.

Caleb Morgan couldn't believe he had a
mail order bride. She was beautiful and quiet too. He just hoped she
would be happy with him. He was his own man and wouldn't let any woman
disrupt his life, but his Pa wasn't in good health and wanted a
grandchild. He felt it his duty to make his Pa as happy as he could for
what time he had left. Little did Caleb realize that Sissy Drake would
rope his heart on their wedding night despite his reservations.

Sissy
Drake had no choice but to become a mail order bride. Her Pa was dead
for a year when her aunt passed too, taking away her home with no other
options available to her. When she met Caleb, she found him to be
domineering and gruff, but she was determined to tame him and be the
wife he needed.

Little did both of them know that her brother,
Lawson, followed Sissy to Caleb's ranch determined to find the
stagecoach money their Pa hid. He had an old score to settle with Caleb
too and wouldn't let anything stand in his way.

Cole Gentry knew when
his grandma got an idea in her head, there was no getting around it.
She was determined he have a mail order bride. Before he even got used
to the idea of one, she told him his bride would be arriving on the
train the very next day. To complicate matters, his mail order bride
was bringing an orphan with her. It seemed he was going to have a wife
and a son at the same time. Being the man he was, Cole was determined to
make Bradley's and Elsa's Christmas one to remember no matter how
things turned out between them.

Elsa Goodman lived her life at
the orphanage where she was left at the age of two. She dreamed of a
home, husband, and family. When she decided to become a mail order
bride, she knew she couldn't leave Bradley behind and was thankful
Cole's grandmother arranged for Elsa to bring Bradley with her, with the
promise that Cole would adopt him when they married. She was
apprehensive about how things would turn out between her and Cole, but
at this magical time of the year, her heart held hope for the future.